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This Alone Could Save Us
With This Alone Could Save Us, Santino Prinzi has fashioned a collection of small, smart fictions that read large. Here is work undergirded by innovation, incisive wit, and a keen ability to navigate terrain that is personal, and at once universal to us all.’
–– Robert Scotellaro, author of Nothing Is Ever One Thing
‘Santino Prinzi is a word-wizard of the heart—a writer who fearlessly excavates uncomfortable secrets. In This Alone Could Save Us, Prinzi's first full collection of flash fiction, human nature is the subject, gentle surrealism the medium. Bizarre yet real, funny and crazily sad—it's mesmerizing to watch Prinzi's vulnerable characters work to free themselves from life's stickiest webs. Subversive, haunting, beautiful—a must-have collection!’
–– Meg Pokrass, author of Alligators At Night and Series Co-Editor, Best Microfiction 2020
'This Alone Could Save Us is a richly varied collection of flash fiction. In these compact gems, Santino Prinzi makes exquisite use of magic and the surreal, but also the quiet, evocative gestures of ordinary life. You will find the deliciously unexpected within these pages, along with moments of breath-taking stillness. Highly recommended.’
–– Kathy Fish, Wild Life: Collected Works from 2003-2018
‘Tender, poetic, and wonderfully surreal, Prinzi understands that stories can save us. Powerful flash fiction that lights up the page, this is the book we all need right now. It is one for the ages. This stunning collection will stay with you for years.’
–– Angela Readman, author of Something Like Breathing and Don’t Try This At Home
‘In This Alone Could Save Us, Santino Prinzi demonstrates his enormous talent for drawing readers into his stories, often surprising them with surrealistic touches that appear totally believable and natural. The flash fictions in this impressive collection are widely varied, but each story is unmistakably Prinzi.’
–– Diane Simmons, author of Finding a Way
‘Exceptionally engaging, closely observed and thought-provoking, this collection shows us a flash master at work as he explores the fault lines that crack open under our feet at moments of unplanned change. Seen through his eyes, the familiar becomes strange, solid becomes unsteady, and even the moon loses its faith in humanity, so moves on. Sometimes sad, sometimes playful, always memorable.’
–– Vanessa Gebbie, author of The Cowards Tale and five short fiction collections.
–– Robert Scotellaro, author of Nothing Is Ever One Thing
‘Santino Prinzi is a word-wizard of the heart—a writer who fearlessly excavates uncomfortable secrets. In This Alone Could Save Us, Prinzi's first full collection of flash fiction, human nature is the subject, gentle surrealism the medium. Bizarre yet real, funny and crazily sad—it's mesmerizing to watch Prinzi's vulnerable characters work to free themselves from life's stickiest webs. Subversive, haunting, beautiful—a must-have collection!’
–– Meg Pokrass, author of Alligators At Night and Series Co-Editor, Best Microfiction 2020
'This Alone Could Save Us is a richly varied collection of flash fiction. In these compact gems, Santino Prinzi makes exquisite use of magic and the surreal, but also the quiet, evocative gestures of ordinary life. You will find the deliciously unexpected within these pages, along with moments of breath-taking stillness. Highly recommended.’
–– Kathy Fish, Wild Life: Collected Works from 2003-2018
‘Tender, poetic, and wonderfully surreal, Prinzi understands that stories can save us. Powerful flash fiction that lights up the page, this is the book we all need right now. It is one for the ages. This stunning collection will stay with you for years.’
–– Angela Readman, author of Something Like Breathing and Don’t Try This At Home
‘In This Alone Could Save Us, Santino Prinzi demonstrates his enormous talent for drawing readers into his stories, often surprising them with surrealistic touches that appear totally believable and natural. The flash fictions in this impressive collection are widely varied, but each story is unmistakably Prinzi.’
–– Diane Simmons, author of Finding a Way
‘Exceptionally engaging, closely observed and thought-provoking, this collection shows us a flash master at work as he explores the fault lines that crack open under our feet at moments of unplanned change. Seen through his eyes, the familiar becomes strange, solid becomes unsteady, and even the moon loses its faith in humanity, so moves on. Sometimes sad, sometimes playful, always memorable.’
–– Vanessa Gebbie, author of The Cowards Tale and five short fiction collections.
- GenresFlash Fiction
132 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2020
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Santino Prinzi
13 books16 followersSantino Prinzi was a Co-Director of National Flash Fiction Day (UK) for a number of years, and helps organise the Flash Fiction Festival in the UK.
His first full-length collection of flash fiction, This Alone Could Save Us is available now from Ad Hoc Fiction.
His flash fiction pamphlet, There's Something Macrocosmic About All of This was published by V-Press in June 2018. Dots, and other flashes of perception, was his fiction mini-collection/chapbook of flash fiction and was published by The Nottingham Review Press in September 2016.
To find out more, please visit his website: Santino Prinzi
His first full-length collection of flash fiction, This Alone Could Save Us is available now from Ad Hoc Fiction.
His flash fiction pamphlet, There's Something Macrocosmic About All of This was published by V-Press in June 2018. Dots, and other flashes of perception, was his fiction mini-collection/chapbook of flash fiction and was published by The Nottingham Review Press in September 2016.
To find out more, please visit his website: Santino Prinzi
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 28, 2020
'Apocalyptic' is the first word that came to mind upon finishing Santino Prinzi's latest work, This Alone Could Save Us - and not just in the 'world-ending' sense of the word (although that is something that is definitely present in many of the flashes here).
A quick Google will define 'apocalypse' as either the 'total destruction of the world' or a 'disclosure or revelation of great knowledge', and both of these definitions dance with one another throughout the collection. Be it through the literal end of the world (where the human race have voted to 'nuke the moon') or one's own personal world falling apart (through the breakdown of relationships or loss of loved ones), the characters within these flashes all learn something, gaining a new perception that perhaps they didn't want or ask for.
This collection flows in the same vein as his previous work (with his emphasis on relationships; identity; the absurdity of life) yet feels more assured and well-rounded. I've always loved Prinzi's voice as he manages to say a hell of a lot with very little, with language that can be misleading in its presumed simplicity and beautifully descriptive when needed. Although the general tone of the collection is a wistful one, there are surreal splashes of humour and joy found throughout, taking shape in talking seagulls and singing socks.
The wistful tone is something palpable in the majority of Prinzi's flashes, and is most affecting when the main focus is on relationships. The relationships in the collection, be it familial or romantic, all feel like they are on the brink of some change or 'apocalypse' - with people slipping away from one another, emotionally and physically, like the moon from the Earth. Sometimes from these feelings of fragility and sadness a positive change is brought about: people reconnect with one another; discover themselves; embrace their identities. The latter point I consider to be a great success of Prinzi's in how he manages to capture the experience of the LGBTQ+ community in particular in a natural and non-gratuitous way. We see characters who struggle to accept who they are but who eventually embrace themselves, and it's nothing short of empowering.
I also want to applaud Prinzi for broadening his scope, touching on past events (Falklands War) as well as taking us to foreign landscapes (China; Norway; Japan) - it helps elevate the collection and is a testament to Prinzi's growing confidence in his skill as a writer. The collection also feels very topical, particularly regarding the current political climate and the general feeling of apocalypse that has pervaded most of 2020.
My stand-out flashes are 'Nonni' (a beautiful recollection of Italian grandparents); 'This Way Around' (whose format captures the journey of the LGBTQ+ community from initial discomfort to self-acceptance); 'It Sometimes Snows in April' (a relationship on the brink pulls back and flourishes with the help of Christmas music and a hint of the surreal); 'You Lost Something in Your Earthquake That You'll Never Get back' (an apocalyptic piece inspired by Prinzi's own experience during the 2011 Japan earthquake); and 'Some Supernatural Force' (a funny and relatable flash where a young gay guy is not so much interested in the TV program as he is the presenter).
I count Tino as one of my closest friends and to see him find his voice and excel in the field of flash fiction makes me very proud. I'm already looking forward to the next collection (or will it perhaps be a novel this time round)? Only time will tell - but I know that I'll love it.
A quick Google will define 'apocalypse' as either the 'total destruction of the world' or a 'disclosure or revelation of great knowledge', and both of these definitions dance with one another throughout the collection. Be it through the literal end of the world (where the human race have voted to 'nuke the moon') or one's own personal world falling apart (through the breakdown of relationships or loss of loved ones), the characters within these flashes all learn something, gaining a new perception that perhaps they didn't want or ask for.
This collection flows in the same vein as his previous work (with his emphasis on relationships; identity; the absurdity of life) yet feels more assured and well-rounded. I've always loved Prinzi's voice as he manages to say a hell of a lot with very little, with language that can be misleading in its presumed simplicity and beautifully descriptive when needed. Although the general tone of the collection is a wistful one, there are surreal splashes of humour and joy found throughout, taking shape in talking seagulls and singing socks.
The wistful tone is something palpable in the majority of Prinzi's flashes, and is most affecting when the main focus is on relationships. The relationships in the collection, be it familial or romantic, all feel like they are on the brink of some change or 'apocalypse' - with people slipping away from one another, emotionally and physically, like the moon from the Earth. Sometimes from these feelings of fragility and sadness a positive change is brought about: people reconnect with one another; discover themselves; embrace their identities. The latter point I consider to be a great success of Prinzi's in how he manages to capture the experience of the LGBTQ+ community in particular in a natural and non-gratuitous way. We see characters who struggle to accept who they are but who eventually embrace themselves, and it's nothing short of empowering.
I also want to applaud Prinzi for broadening his scope, touching on past events (Falklands War) as well as taking us to foreign landscapes (China; Norway; Japan) - it helps elevate the collection and is a testament to Prinzi's growing confidence in his skill as a writer. The collection also feels very topical, particularly regarding the current political climate and the general feeling of apocalypse that has pervaded most of 2020.
My stand-out flashes are 'Nonni' (a beautiful recollection of Italian grandparents); 'This Way Around' (whose format captures the journey of the LGBTQ+ community from initial discomfort to self-acceptance); 'It Sometimes Snows in April' (a relationship on the brink pulls back and flourishes with the help of Christmas music and a hint of the surreal); 'You Lost Something in Your Earthquake That You'll Never Get back' (an apocalyptic piece inspired by Prinzi's own experience during the 2011 Japan earthquake); and 'Some Supernatural Force' (a funny and relatable flash where a young gay guy is not so much interested in the TV program as he is the presenter).
I count Tino as one of my closest friends and to see him find his voice and excel in the field of flash fiction makes me very proud. I'm already looking forward to the next collection (or will it perhaps be a novel this time round)? Only time will tell - but I know that I'll love it.
November 2, 2020
This was a 2.5 review for me.
I’ll elaborate more on the reasons why in my written review coming to Storgy.com
A collection with 51 flash fiction pieces - there were 8 stories that I enjoyed, the rest just seemed to be lacking something or not enough story within them to enjoy what Prinzi was trying to convey.
Many of the stories focused on relationships and I enjoyed this recurring theme, but I wanted more from the collection, I know it was a collection so many differing selections from weird to heartfelt, to bonkers to subtle pieces - I felt that it needed something to unify and tie the collection together but it didn’t seem to have this for me.
Some of Prinzi’s writing was delightful in the poetic use of prose (the first and last story that bookend the collection were terrific) - but the other flash stories I enjoyed were too spaced out to have me fully invested in the collection.
I’ll elaborate more on the reasons why in my written review coming to Storgy.com
A collection with 51 flash fiction pieces - there were 8 stories that I enjoyed, the rest just seemed to be lacking something or not enough story within them to enjoy what Prinzi was trying to convey.
Many of the stories focused on relationships and I enjoyed this recurring theme, but I wanted more from the collection, I know it was a collection so many differing selections from weird to heartfelt, to bonkers to subtle pieces - I felt that it needed something to unify and tie the collection together but it didn’t seem to have this for me.
Some of Prinzi’s writing was delightful in the poetic use of prose (the first and last story that bookend the collection were terrific) - but the other flash stories I enjoyed were too spaced out to have me fully invested in the collection.
September 13, 2020
What would be lost if the moon were to disappear, how ordinary the sky might be
without it.
- Santino Prinzi
The moon features heavily in Santino Prinzi’s flash fiction collection, This Alone Could Save Us. Sometimes a recurring character, always a metaphor for each of the powerful stories in this collection, the moon is steady, looming large above us, but also pulling away at a pace that is imperceptible to the naked eye. It’s in these gentle shifts that Prinzi’s stories shine.
The first and last stories of the collection act as bookends, almost mirroring each other. At the beginning of the collection, people are desperate: ‘When we realise the moon is shifting away, we beg it not to go. We vow we can change. ’ By the end, this desperation is intensified, but has turned against the moon: ‘Following the will of the people, the government decide to nuke the moon .… Some people believe the moon is the source of all their worldly problems and it’d be for the best if the moon was gone.’ Prinzi’s layered messages in 'The Moon is a Foreign Body, We Can No Longer Trust It' shine as bright as a full moon on a clear night.
This is a fabulous collection, exploring a range of emotions and situations. There is hope for Louise and her fourth husband, Edwin, who find their way back to each other in 'It Sometimes Snows in April' and the boy who is finally freed from his mother’s snapping in 'How to Make the Magic Work'; sadness for Clyde in 'Bonsai and Clyde,' and something in between for the characters in the title story. Highly recommend.
without it.
- Santino Prinzi
The moon features heavily in Santino Prinzi’s flash fiction collection, This Alone Could Save Us. Sometimes a recurring character, always a metaphor for each of the powerful stories in this collection, the moon is steady, looming large above us, but also pulling away at a pace that is imperceptible to the naked eye. It’s in these gentle shifts that Prinzi’s stories shine.
The first and last stories of the collection act as bookends, almost mirroring each other. At the beginning of the collection, people are desperate: ‘When we realise the moon is shifting away, we beg it not to go. We vow we can change. ’ By the end, this desperation is intensified, but has turned against the moon: ‘Following the will of the people, the government decide to nuke the moon .… Some people believe the moon is the source of all their worldly problems and it’d be for the best if the moon was gone.’ Prinzi’s layered messages in 'The Moon is a Foreign Body, We Can No Longer Trust It' shine as bright as a full moon on a clear night.
This is a fabulous collection, exploring a range of emotions and situations. There is hope for Louise and her fourth husband, Edwin, who find their way back to each other in 'It Sometimes Snows in April' and the boy who is finally freed from his mother’s snapping in 'How to Make the Magic Work'; sadness for Clyde in 'Bonsai and Clyde,' and something in between for the characters in the title story. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews